Frequently asked questions

General information

Why should I choose Campfire Hosting?

Traditional Minecraft server hosts lock you into monthly payments to host your adventure. If you go on a vacation or have a busy week with tests, you still have to pay for the full service.

With Campfire Hosting, you play on your terms. We have a credit system where your credits get used only for the minutes your server is online. We automatically save and shut off your server when no players are online, saving your adventure and your wallet!

Where are the servers located?

We have two regions to choose from: U.S. East (Virginia) and Europe (Germany). Pick the region closest to your players when you create your server and it will run there, giving everyone the lowest ping. Your server and its world data stay in that region permanently.

What are your support hours?

Our support hours are usually 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM PST.

How do I know my server will run smoothly on Campfire Hosting?

You get 2 hours of free play time on our coal servers [3GB RAM, 1vCPU] to test your server out. No credit card needed and no commitment. We also have free support to help address any set up issues you may encounter.

Server management

How do I start my Minecraft server?

Simply join it like any other server! If the server is stopped, it will automatically start. Admins can also start servers from the Admin Panel.

How long does it take for a server to start?

It depends on the package and type of server. Lower-resource packages (e.g., Iron) take ~3 minutes, while higher-resource packages (e.g., Emerald) can start in as little as 90 seconds. First-time starts may take longer to generate the world spawn. The start time depends on 3 factors:
  • The server package being used &em; Higher CPU counts will start the server faster since its can parallelize operations
  • The size of the server &em; Bigger servers take longer to copy onto the node the server is going to run on. (e.g. a 600MB server could take ~20 seconds to copy while a 30GB one could take 9 minutes)
  • The mods and plugins being used &em; using many mods or plugins will take longer to initialize on server start

When does my server stop? Is it automatic?

Servers automatically stop 5 minutes after the last player disconnects. This can also be configured in the admin panel under advanced settings. Admins can also manually stop servers via the Admin Panel.

What happens if a player is AFK? Will my server stop?

Servers won’t stop if an inactive player remains online. Set the[player-idle-timeout] property to kick AFK players after a specified time (e.g., 10 minutes).

Can I change the server package that I am using?

Yes! You can update your package anytime via the Admin Panel. Changes apply the next time your server starts.

Will my server be deleted if it is inactive for too long?

Servers aren’t deleted as long as your account has credits. After three weeks with no credits, servers are deleted, with email warnings sent beforehand.

Cost and billing

Is there a monthly fee or subscription?

No. You add funds up front, and they are only used for the minutes your server is online, plus a small daily storage fee. If nobody plays for a month, you pay nothing for server time.

Am I charged for the time it takes my server to start and stop?

No! Billing begins when your server is fully online and stops when the shutdown process starts.

Does my balance expire?

No, your prepaid balance never expires. Play a lot one month and barely at all the next - whatever is left carries over until you use it.

What happens when my balance runs out?

Your server stops and cannot be started again until you top up. Your world and files stay safe: servers are only deleted after three weeks with an empty balance, and we send email warnings before that happens.

Can I set a spending limit?

There is no separate spending-limit setting, but your balance is prepaid, so you can never spend more than you have added. If you add $5, that is the most your server can use - there are no surprise overage bills.

How do storage fees work?

Storage costs $0.18 per GB per month, deducted daily from your balance. For example, 600MB of storage would cost $0.003 per day.

Compatibility

How do I know my server will run smoothly on Campfire Hosting?

You get 2 hours of free play time on our coal servers [3GB RAM, 1vCPU] to test your server out. No credit card needed and no commitment. We also have free support to help address any set up issues you may encounter.

Does Campfire Hosting have support for mods or plugins? How do I install them?

Yes, we support Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, and Paper on Minecraft versions from 1.1 all the way to the latest release (each loader covers the versions it supports) - see our modded Minecraft hosting pages for per-platform details. Upload mods or plugins via the File Manager. For detailed guides for setting up your Campfire Hosting server mods check out:

Can I transfer my existing server to Campfire Hosting?

Of course! We provide full FTP access to your server enabling you to upload your world, mods and plugins with ease. While we have a Web FTP client, we recommend you download an FTP client such as FileZilla to ensure a smooth transfer process. If you have a world with another Minecraft Host, we will gladly transfer the current files over for you. Just contact our support!